Single day walks with Southern Wilderness

Escape from the hustle and bustle of town for a day of stunning views, gourmet food and beautiful natural surroundings. Let Southern Wilderness take you on an adventure of the senses with your own personal guide. Our day walks are all inclusive packages, transport to and from your accommodation with full safety management, cultural, historical and natural interpretation from your personal guide. A gourmet lunch to delight the senses including fresh plunger coffee and a selection of teas is provided plus your own personal snack pack for the day.

Kahurangi National Park

Mt. Arthur Hike

In the morning your guide will pick you up from your accommodation in Nelson for the short drive to the access for the Mt. Arthur walk, one of the highest access points in New Zealand.

Mt Arthur (1795 metres) is a peak on the eastern of Kahurangi National Park, and its alpine environment, vegetation, caves and karsts landscape are one of the most easily accessible and dramatic regions in the Nelson area. Leaving the car park, the track rises through Flora Saddle and beautiful beech forest, then climbs gently through the unusual mountain Nei Nei, (what we call the “Doctor Seuss” plant) to Mount Arthur Hut, with superb views of Nelson and Tasman Bay. While enjoying the view you will get a freshly prepared gourmet meal from your personal guide.

Beyond the hut the landscape opens up and you can follow the track further as it becomes a poled route following a ridge to t he summit of Mount Arthur. The ridge, which is covered in alpine flowers during the summer, offers tremendous views into the mountains and interior of the 500,000 hectare Kahurangi National Park, while descending back to the car park.

Price: $295 per person

Nelson Lakes

Mount Robert Ridgeline Experience

This stunning hike to Mt Robert offers exquisite views and vistas of the surrounding mountain ranges and many valleys.

Your guide will pick you up in the morning from your accommodation in Nelson to take you to Nelson Lakes National Park. After the drive to the car park – half way up the mountain, this is a great way to start the day, you will have wonderful views before the hike even begins! A gourmet lunch at Bushline hut and a few hours later you’ll be dropped off back at your accommodation. This walk on a good day is hard to beat. Wonderful 360 degree views of the Southern Alps stretching away to the south, and the valleys which lie at the feet of these mighty mountains, it’s almost hard to capture the feeling in a photograph.

Price: $295 per person

Shoreline Stroll Adventure

This gentle exploration of the shores of Lake Rotoiti is truly a delight. Walking along ancient beech forest on the edge of the Rotoiti “Mainland Island” Conservation Recovery project, you are surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Nelson Lakes with bird chorus in the background. This is an unforgettable day walk into a world away from urbanisation and cityscapes.

Your guide drives you through to the small alpine village of St. Arnaud. Here you will board a water taxi (boat) and travel to the head of the lake. Once there, a small stroll up the Travers Valley will give you an appreciation for the massive glaciers that carved out this piece of paradise over 15,000 years ago. After a gourmet Lunch, your walk will take you down the edge of the lake and through the Rotoiti Recovery Project conservation area back to St. Arnaud. Of Nelson Lakes National Park, and its alpine environment, vegetation, caves and karsts landscape are one of the most easily accessible and dramatic regions in the Nelson area.

Price: $345 per person (includes water taxi)

Abel Tasman

Abel Tasman Coastal Walkway

The Abel Tasman coastal track is world renowned for its beautiful beaches, sea views and stunning native bush, the tidal estuaries and private bays host a huge variety of species from native birds, seals, and even the occasional penguin or dolphin, you are guaranteed to find something interesting to look at.

Your guide will pick you up from your accommodation at 8:00 am and drive out to Marahau in time to catch the water taxi out to Torrent Bay which allows us to either cut across the estuary for a shorter walk (if the tides permit) or take the high tide track around the top end of the bay visiting the beautiful Cleopatra’s pool along the way, We will walk for approximately two hours before stopping for a delicious Gourmet lunch prepared by your guide. After lunch we will continue following the stunning coastline back to Marahau exploring the many bays as we go along.

Price: $345 per person (includes water taxi)

Southern Wilderness Gourmet Day Walks Include:

• Door to door transport – from your accommodation in Nelson out to the track and back! • A professional, personal and caring guide who will provide comprehensive interpretation. • Full safety management throughout your trip. • A gourmet lunch. • Healthy, energy-filled snacks to nibble on during your trip.